TEAM JONAH UPDATE #BlickyStrong
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The Blick Family
It's time for another Jonah update, and as always, there is a LOT going on behind the scenes! But we've also been making sure to pack as much FUN as possible into our days and weekends, because life doesn't stop while we're figuring all of this out!
First and foremost, Jonah has FINISHED radiation and continues to be absolutely AMAZING! He is feeling good, going to school every day, playing soccer and basketball, going to parties, hanging out with friends, and just being a normal 14-year-old boy. And through all of this, he never complains. Not once. Besides a patch of hair that is missing on one side - he had zero other side effects! He continues to amaze us every single day.
A LITTLE FLORIDA/GEORGIA FUN!
We've been doing our best to fill the days and weekends with as much fun and as many special memories as possible, and Florida/Georgia weekend was definitely one for the books!
While the Gators apparently forgot to show up for the actual football game... the rest of the weekend was INCREDIBLE!
Thanks to a special partnership between the Tim Tebow Foundation and YES DAY, GA, Jonah and the entire family were VIP guests of Tim Tebow for SEC Nation! We got to go behind the scenes, meet everyone, and experience the whole production up close.
And I cannot say enough about Tim Tebow. He was absolutely AMAZING. He didn't just stop by for a quick picture. He spent real, intentional time with Jonah and the family, making us laugh, making everyone feel special, and genuinely making us feel loved. It meant SO much.
Everyone on the SEC Nation set was wearing their #BlickyStrong bracelets, and Jonah was loving EVERY SECOND. And when Tim mentioned Jonah during his game pick on air, we know that made him feel pretty darn special. Too bad the Gators couldn't deliver the win! 😂
Tim is STILL wearing his #BlickyStrong bracelet, and we've been told to keep an eye out for some of our Gators wearing theirs during this weekend's game!
After SEC Nation, we spent the rest of the day at Adam and Herschell's EPIC tailgate, complete with what might actually be the best smash burger any of us has ever eaten. Great friends, great food, lots of laughs, and just a really, really special day.
These are the moments we're trying to create as often as we can. Days when Jonah gets to be Jonah, and the whole family gets to laugh, have fun, and just enjoy being together.
HOUSTON & MD ANDERSON
We spent two nights in Houston this week meeting with Dr. Gregory Friedman and Dr. Moody at MD Anderson. Both doctors were once again amazed at how well Jonah looks and how great he is doing.
Dr. Moody focuses on nutrition and helping prepare Jonah's body for the treatments ahead, with an emphasis on supporting his overall health and immune system. Her recommendation was a Mediterranean-style diet, along with staying active, getting good sleep, and maintaining a positive attitude.
So starting Monday, the Blick family (and lucky for my kids, they're joining in too!) will be doing their best to embrace the Mediterranean diet! Lots of whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and fewer processed foods.
And we're going to be realistic about it. Jonah is 14. If he's out with his friends and they're eating pizza, he's eating pizza! His happiness and being able to enjoy life are just as important. We're simply going to make the healthiest choices we can, as often as we can.
And I need your help! If you have EASY, YUMMY Mediterranean diet recipes that use mostly whole ingredients, please email them to me at [email protected]. I'm going to compile everyone's favorites for Randi and Adam so we can make this as easy as possible for them!
Dr. Friedman will also be joining the incredible team of doctors we've assembled for Jonah, with Dr. Tobey MacDonald leading the charge at CHOA, Dr. Mariella Filbin at Dana-Farber in Boston, and Dr. Elias Sayour at the University of Florida. We are so grateful to have these brilliant minds collaborating and helping us navigate what comes next.
Of course, we made sure Houston wasn't ALL doctors! We squeezed in some fun at an interactive game room, and Jonah was his usual hilarious, extra-sassy self. His personality just keeps getting better and I just love being around him. He's very attached to his mom right now - (which I get, I am too) - and she is soaking in all of the extra time and love.
We also had dinner with Vidya, an incredible research scientist we met at the IFF symposium, to learn more about her work with natural killer (NK) cells and the potential they may have in cancer treatment.
SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS ON THE VACCINE FRONT!
We heard from Dr. Elias Sayour this morning, and he was happy to share that the FDA has approved the first request related to his personalized mRNA vaccine work! This is an important step forward, although there is still additional work and regulatory approval needed for children under 18.
Dr. Sayour is working toward creating a personalized mRNA vaccine specifically for Jonah, and while there are still hurdles ahead, we are celebrating every bit of progress!
We also had a call with the team in Germany this morning. They've been conducting testing on Jonah's tumor tissue to determine whether he could be a candidate for a personalized peptide vaccine. We expect to have more information once we receive the results of his next MRI.
We're continuing to explore these possibilities so we have multiple options available down the road if we need them.
THE BIG NEXT STEP: NOVEMBER 16TH
Jonah's next MRI is scheduled for November 16th, and we are sending up endless prayers that it shows no evidence of disease.
Those results will be incredibly important in helping the doctors determine the next steps in treatment while we wait for the personalized vaccine to be ready.
One of the hardest and most frustrating parts of this journey for Adam and Randi is that there is no single answer. No clear roadmap. No one treatment path that everyone agrees is the right one.
There are different approaches, different opinions, and so many possibilities to consider. Our job is to gather as much information as we possibly can, surround Jonah with the very best minds, and determine the most aggressive approach that is also safe and supported by the best available evidence.
We've been told to have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D.
So that's exactly what we're doing.
Every doctor we meet with is very clear that this is an incredibly difficult diagnosis. Nobody is minimizing that. But they have also been encouraging about how well Jonah is doing, and we are doing everything we possibly can to give him the best chance at the best outcome.
We will keep asking questions, researching, connecting with experts, and exploring every reasonable option. We are NOT going to stop looking.
BUT FOR NOW... WE GET TO JUST LIVE. 💙
Between now and November 16th, there are no doctor appointments on the calendar, and we plan to enjoy EVERY SINGLE SECOND of that.
The Blick house continues to be a place full of positivity, light, laughter, friends, and fun whenever possible. We can't control everything that's happening, but we can control how we spend our days, and our goal is to keep everyone busy, happy, and surrounded by love.
A special thank you to Grandma Debbie for holding down the fort while we were in Houston for two nights!
And to EVERYONE who continues to show up for the Blick family in so many different ways — the meals, messages, prayers, friendships, rides, check-ins, and countless acts of kindness — THANK YOU.
This is a long road, and there are still so many unknowns. But knowing that they don't have to walk it alone means more to Adam and Randi than you will ever know.
Please keep those prayers, positive thoughts, and BIG HOPE coming, especially as we head toward November 16th.
One day at a time. One step at a time. And ALWAYS with hope. 💙
#BlickyStrong
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